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Even before it hit the airwaves last fall, TLC’s reality shocker“Breaking Amish”stirred up a hotbed of controversy. On a near-daily basis, reporters and former friends of the five cast members revealed the truth behind the supposedly naive Amish and Mennonite 20-somethings getting their first taste of life in New York.

The show became an instant smash.

Now Amish-exile newlyweds Abe and Rebecca Schmucker, rising model Kate Stoltzfus, rebel Jeremiah Raber, and sole Mennonite Sabrina High are back for a second season in “Breaking Amish: Brave New World,” airing Sundays.

Attempting a fresh start amid a large Amish and ex-Amish community in Sarasota, Fla., the group finds that starting over is tougher than it seems.

“I hadn’t seen the rest of the cast since the reunion — and I wasn’t looking forward to seeing them again,” Stoltzfus admits to Zap2it. “It was good to be reunited; however, I had several things I wanted to set straight with them, and I wanted to show them they couldn’t run all over me again.”

High says that while adjusting to the cameras was easier the second time around, coping with fame is an ongoing process.

“I don’t think any of us were really prepared,” she says. “Because I didn’t grow up with that, it was hard for me to fathom that people would watch TV that much — especially a show with the five of us! But I’ve never tried to hide anything from anyone; if they want to dig they can go ahead and dig. I can’t let it affect me or I’d drive myself crazy.”

“We are the ones that exposed ourselves, after all,” Stoltzfus agrees. “It was difficult, but critics have always been my motivators, and the fans became my encouragement.”

Both women say they’re most excited for fans to see how far they’ve come since leaving New York.

“I’m excited for them to see how much more confident I am!” Stoltzfus says. “I also want them to see that dreams do come true if you work hard enough and set your mind to it.”